1964 Thomas Cup Pan American zone

February 2019 In 1964, 26 national teams divided in 4 zones (Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Pan America) competed for the right to challenge the champion Indonesia for the Thomas Cup. Until this year, the Pan American zone had been basically a dual meet between Canada and the United States which had always been won by the latter. This time 2 more American teams; Mexico and Jamaica, joined the competition. In addition, Japan was included to compete in this zone.Annual Handbook of the International Badminton Federation, edited by H.A.E. Scheele, Bromley, Kent, England, printed by A Jennings Ltd., 23rd edition, year 1965, pages 77-79. For a more detailed description of the Thomas Cup format see Wikipedia's general article on the Thomas Cup. First Round In the first round, three nations had byes: the United States, Canada and Jamaica. Thus, the national teams of Mexico and Japan faced each other on 22 and 23 February 1964 at Mexico City. The Mexicans were optimistic because despite having a young team, their badminton players had some international experience and they had demonstrated that they could play badminton at a competitive level. On the other side, Japan had a strong team with some experienced players who had already competed in previous Thomas Cup tournaments. As a curiosity, the best players of both teams, Yoshio Komiya and Antonio Rangel were not national champions at the moment of the competition. Japan practically took control of the confrontation from the beginning to the end winning the 9 matches. Mexico just won 3 sets; 2 of them by Antonio Rangel, and one more by Oscar Luján. Hence, the superiority and experience of Japan was more than evident and it was a presage of what was coming in the Pan American zone."México Deportivo" Magazine, published by the Confederación Deportiva Mexicana, March 1964, num25, Mexico City, pages 14-19"Esto" Newspaper, Section A, Mexico City, Note by Serafín Vázquez Jr, Monday 24 February 1964, page 15."Esto" Newspaper, Section A, Mexico City, Friday 21 February 1964, page 10."Novedades" Newspaper, Sports Section, Mexico City, Saturday 22 February 1964. Japan Japan Mexico Mexico Set 1 Set 2 Set 3Yoshio KomiyaSergio Fraustro15-215-11Yoshio KomiyaAntonio Rangel13-1515-1215-11Takeshi MiyanagaAntonio Rangel18-1311-1515-7Takeshi MiyanagaRaúl Rangel15-415-6Eichi NagaiOscar Luján15-313-1815-8Eichi Nagai - Eichi SakaiGuillermo Allier - Oscar Luján15-415-2Eichi Nagai - Eichi SakaiAntonio Rangel - Manuel Ordorica15-115-3Yoshio Komiya - Yoshinori ItagakiAntonio Rangel - Raúl Rangel15-115-3Yoshio Komiya - Yoshinori ItagakiGuillermo Allier - Oscar Luján15-415-4 Second Round For the second round, Japan and Canada played for their right to get into the finals of the Pan American zone, while the United States confronted the other debutant team: Jamaica. Japan had advanced into this round by defeating Mexico, while for Canada it was an opportunity to make it for the first time into the Inter zone round. Both teams clashed on 6 and 7 March 1964 at Vancouver, Canada. As with Mexico, Japan imposed its class to Canada and they defeated them by winning 8 matches and only losing one. The man for the Canadian team was Wayne Macdonell who won his match against Yoshio Komiya and extended to 3 sets his game against Takeshi Miyanaga. After its performance against Canada, there was no doubt, if any, that Japan was the team to be beaten in the zone. Japan Japan Canada Canada Set 1 Set 2 Set 3Yoshio KomiyaWayne Macdonell12-1515-1115-18Yoshio KomiyaBruce Rollick15-315-3Takeshi MiyanagaBruce Rollick12-1515-1115-8Takeshi MiyanagaWayne Macdonell15-1011-1518-15Eichi NagaiBert Fergus15-515-2Eichi Nagai - Eichi SakaiWayne Macdonell - Bert Fergus15-515-2Eichi Nagai - Eichi SakaiRolf Paterson - Edward Paterson15-1215-12Yoshio Komiya - Yoshinori ItagakiWayne Macdonell - Bert Fergus15-115-6Yoshio Komiya - Yoshinori ItagakiRolf Paterson - Edward Paterson11-1515-515-3 In the other match, the reigning winner of the Pan American zone, the United States was facing the other new entrant to this competition: Jamaica. The games were held at Kingston, Jamaica, on 7 and 8 February 1964. The United States lined up many familiar faces such as JC Alston, Don Paup, Michael Hartgrove and Manny Armendariz; all badminton players with experience in past Thomas Cup tournaments. In a similar case as Mexico, despite being the first time that Jamaica was competing in the Thomas Cup, some of its players had shown that could play at a competitive level. Nevertheless, the superiority of the United States was unquestionable and they defeated Jamaica 9–0; indeed, Jamaica could not even win a set. United States United States Jamaica Jamaica Set 1 Set 2 Set 3Don PaupKL Palmer15-115-4Don PaupE Hew15-1115-4Manny ArmendarizE Hew15-115-1Manny ArmendarizKL Palmer15-315-0R GormanRD Roberts15-1215-7Jimmy Lynch - Don PaupKL Palmer - N Casserley15-915-4Jimmy Lynch - Don PaupBJ Clear - E Hew15-915-5JC Alston - Michael HartgroveBJ Clear - E Hew15-215-5JC Alston - Michael HartgroveKL Palmer - N Casserley15-215-1 Final Round The expected confrontation between Japan and the United States happened on 13 and 14 March 1964 at Victoria, B.C. The United States had always won this zone and, hence, the right to compete in the Inter-zones round. However, for Japan was the perfect opportunity to host the final rounds of this tournament and to challenge Indonesia at home for the Thomas Cup. Both teams had crushed their rivals in the previous rounds. Japan repeated their same formation and players, while the United States strengthened their team by including Jim Poole and T. Wynn Rogers, a men's doubles specialist and the eternal teammate of JC Alston. But not even the adjustments of the United States were enough to defeat Japan and the Japanese team defeated 7-2 the United States, both American winning matches were obtained by Jim Poole who remarkably did it in only 2 sets. Japan Japan United States United States Set 1 Set 2 Set 3Yoshio KomiyaJim Poole11-1513-18Yoshio KomiyaManny Armendariz15-515-4Takeshi MiyanagaManny Armendariz15-215-2Takeshi MiyanagaJim Poole5-155-15Eichi NagaiDon Paup15-118-14Eichi Nagai - Eichi SakaiMichael Hartgrove - Don Paup15-138-1515-9Eichi Nagai - Eichi SakaiJC Alston - TW Rogers8-1515-1218-16Yoshio Komiya - Yoshinori ItagakiJC Alston - TW Rogers15-715-7Yoshio Komiya - Yoshinori ItagakiMichael Hartgrove - Don Paup15-710-1515-9 Conclusions Japan - the best team of the competition; their victory also highlighted the superiority of the Asian teams over the Pan American zone. In the Inter-zone round, Japan contested against Thailand who won the confrontation 6–3. Thailand then was defeated 6-3 by the mighty Denmark, led by Erland Kops and Finn Kobbero, but the Danish team lost in the Challenge Round against Indonesia in arguably circumstances. The United States - Lost for the first time the right to represent the Pan American zone in the Thomas Cup. Many players of this national team, then were inducted to the Walk of Fame of the United States (JC Alston, Jim Poole, Don Paup and TW Rogers). Canada - Despite losing again, the Canadian team improved and showed more competitiveness than in previous years. Mexico - if not the best, Mexico won its first three sets in a Thomas Cup in its first appearance (2 sets by Antonio Rangel and 1 by Oscar Luján). Jamaica - 1964 was its first appearance in the Thomas Cup. References Thomas Cup Category:Badminton tournaments in North America Category:Thomas & Uber Cup